Crocodile skin trade increasing, with Mexico and Japan top buyers
The trade in crocodiles has increased in SA, with thousands of skins, skulls and rug mats leaving the country for the Americas and Europe in the past year, an animal rights organisation said yesterday.
This remark follows the arrest of Alfred Matika, 28, Johannes Matika, 41, Theophillas Ntsonda, 29, and Jackson Sibisi, 37, who appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday for allegedly stealing a 2.5m Nile crocodile in Hartbeesfontein. Such animals weigh about 300kg to 330kg. The men were allegedly found with the large animal shortly after the theft.
Since the crocodile had spent a long time without water, it was in a bad condition, dehydrated, with pale, whitish hide after it had been hidden under branches at an abandoned farmhouse.
The animal was returned to its owner and placed back in its small dam.
Owner Wybrand Lambrecht, who runs a crocodile farm, refused to comment on the theft but said the crocodile was doing well.
“The crocodile is doing fine. No further comments. Thank you,” he said.
Ban Animal Trade said the legal trade in crocodiles and body parts of the animal has increased in the country in the past two years.
Last year, Mexico received most of the exported 5,396 crocodile skins, followed by Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Germany and Italy.
This increased from 5,188 the previous year, with Mexico again taking most of the stock.
The UK received 10 wet-salted skins including one crusted skin that year, Ban Animal Trade chair Smaragda Louw said.
“All of these skins would be used for handbags, shoes and wristwatch straps.
“Crocodile skin export in SA is massive. Last year, 20kg of crocodile meat was exported to Belgium.
“It is hard to say why those [accused] men would have stolen the crocodile ... but crocodile meat is a thing and maybe they were waiting for someone to come and get the animal for meat,” she said.
Police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh said the crime was abnormal as crocodiles had not before been reported stolen in the province.
“In all the 15 years I have been working at the provincial office, we have never heard of a crocodile being stolen.
“It is usually pangolins, tortoises, lions and their claws. Two weeks back it was apes, but this is the first crocodile that I know of.”
She said police suspect the men were waiting for the animal to be collected and there weree suspicions the animal, valued at R25,000 was going to be used for muti.
The four accused are expected to return to the Hartbeesfontein periodical court on Monday.
They face charges of contravening the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.